Dr. Neema Kayange

I was born and raised in Tanzania. I have been a pediatrician and lecturer at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) and Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (CUHAS) for the past 4 years. Working as a pediatrician taking care of inpatients and outpatients has revealed to me the urgent need for clinical research in Tanzania; research that will improve our understanding of disease in African children so that we can improve their health. In particular, I have seen the high prevalence of unrecognized kidney disease in children, much of which seems to be attributable to schistosomiasis. Kidney disease, occurring at a young age, may lead to end stage renal disease or other complications such as hypertension in adults. Therefore, we must find a way to improve early detection and treatment in high-risk group in order to prevent kidney disease and its complications.

My long-term goal is to pursue a career as a physician-scientist. I aspire to remain at BMC and CUHAS to conduct clinical research and train the next generation of Tanzanian pediatric researchers. My experience with WCMC has taught me that international collaboration will be an important component of this work.

Dr. Kayange is an MD from Hubert Kairuki Memorial University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and has a Masters in Pediatrics from Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania and a Masters in Clinical Epidemiology & Health Sciences Research from Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, USA.